Chusetts



(No Model.)

F. J. CARTLEDGE 8u H. B. DAWSON.

SINKER HOLDER FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

Patented Feb. 11, 1896.

'LJNH ED STATES ATENT FFICE.

FRANCIS J. CARTLEDGE AND HOIVARD B. DAIVS ON, OF IPSIVICII, MASSA- CI-IUSETTS.

SlNKER-HOLDER FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,475, dated February 11, 1896.

Application filed May 22, 1895. Serial No. 550,164. (No model.)

T0 (0% whom it may concern.-

Ze it known that we, FRANCIS J. CART- LEDGE and HOWARD B. DAwsoN, of Ipswich, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Sinker-Holders for Knitting-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to sinker-holders for knitting-machines, and more particularly for circular-knitting machines for making seamless fabric, employing latch-needles.

In that class of knitting-machines in which the sinkers are stationary at all times it is usual to secure them in a suitable holder by means of solder, and when a sinker breaks or wears out a new one must be soldered into place, necessitating delay and trouble. So, too, in such machines there is no possibility of adjusting the sinkers for different grades of fabric and yarn, and the yarn can onlybe controlled thoroughly when one particular length of loop is being made.

This invention has for its object the production of a sinker-holder adapted to receive and sustain stationary aseries of removable sinkers, means being also provided for adjusting the sinkers, whereby the yarn is controlled at all times in the formation of the stitch, whether a long or short loop.

In accordance therewith our invention consists, in a knitting-machine, of a sinkerholder, a series of removable sinkers adj ustably mounted thereon, and means to adjust the sinkers on the holder, substantially as will be described.

Other features of our invention will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a vertical diametrical sectional view of a needle-cylinder with our invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a partial top or plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail View similar to Fig. 1, with the sinkers in another position; and Fig. 4c is a side elevation of one of the sinkers detached.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 3, A represents the needle-cylinder of a circularknitting machine for making seamless hosiery, provided with the usual needle-grooves a to receive and guide the latch-needles 42, which are actuated in well-known manner by a needle cam-cylinder. (Not shown.)

As herein shown, the needle-cylinder A is interiorly shouldered at its upper end, at a, and preferably threaded at a to receive the sinker-holder 1;, shown as a ring exteriorly thread ed to engage a retaining-ring and interiorly threaded for a purpose to be described.

The sinker-holder b is radially slotted at b in its outer periphery to form seats for the sinkers s, the bottoms of the slots 1) being outwardly and downwardly inclined, as at b and between each pair of sinker-seats the holder is grooved at b to form guides for the needles n. An annular groove 12 is made in the top of the holder, intersecting the upper ends of the sinkenslots b, to receive therein a retaining-rin g c, inwardly beveled on its under face at c to correspond with and rest on the inclined top 3 of a foot s on the inner edge and lower end of each sinker. The bottom of the sinker is oppositely beveled at s s, the edge 5 resting on and corresponding to the inclination of the bottom 6 of the sinker-seat in the holder, while the edge 8 rests on the outwardly-beveled top cl of an adjusting device, shown as a ring d threaded onto the exterior of the sinker-holder b.

To hold the retaining-ring 0 down upon the inturned feet :9 of the sinkers we have mounted a threaded clamping-ring c on the interior of the holder Z), said ring having an annular flange e to project over and rest upon the top of the ring 0.

Referring to Fig. 1, the sinkers s are shown as held in their lowest position and with their throats s nearest to the paths of the needles to make a short loop for fine yarn or fabric, the sinkers controlling the yarn throughout the formation of the stitch.

In Fig. 3 we have shown the sinkers as adjusted in their highest position, with their throats farthest from the needle-paths, for the formation of a long loop, this adjustment being obtained by first raising the clamp e and then rotating the ring (I 011 and to raise it upon the holder 1). This movement of the adjusting-ring d pushes the sinkers inward,

and their beveled edges 3 slide up the inclined bottoms b of the sinker-seats, the inturned feet 3 lifting the retaining-ring c, and when the desired position of the sinkers is attained the clamp e is turned down upon the retaining-ring c to thus rigidly hold the sinkers in position.

Should a sinker break or become worn, it can be immediately removed and a new one substituted by moving the ring 01 and clamp e away from each other, loosening the hold on the sinkers until the injured one can be re moved and the new one inserted.

Our invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement of parts as herein shown, for, so far as we are aware, it is broadly new to mount a series of removable sinkers adj ustably in a holder and to provide means for adjusting the sinkers on the holder.

W'e claim" 1. In a knitting-machine, a sinker-holder, a series of removable sinkers adjustably mounted thereon, and means to adjust the sinkers on the holder, substantially as described.

2. In a circular-knitting machine, asinkerring provided with radial slots in its periphery having outwardly and downwardly inclined bottoms, sinkers adapted to be seated in said slots and having inclined bases to rest upon the bottoms of the slots, and means to adj ustably retain the sinkers rigidly therein, substantially as described.

3. In a circular-knitting machine, a radially slotted sinker-holder threaded externally, a ring adjustable thereon and having an outwardly-beveled top, a series of removable sinkers adapted to be seated in the slotted holder and 011 the ring, each sinker hav ing an inturned foot, a retaining-ring to rest on the sinker-feet, and a clamp to hold said retaining-ring in place, substantially as described.

4. In a circular-knitting machine, an annular slotted sinker-holder, a series of removable sinkers seated therein, independent rings 

